The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is proud to announce Alan Varsik as
Assistant Zoo Director effective November 1, 2010. Mr. Varsik was previously
the Assistant Zoo Director at the Santa Barbara Zoo in Santa Barbara,
California.

As
Assistant Zoo Director, Mr. Varsik will oversee the Zoo’s animal collection
which consists of nearly
1,800 animals. He will also be instrumental in overseeing major zoo projects
including Expedition Asia and the new Veterinarian Hospital both set to open in
2013. Mr. Varsik is also a member of the Zoo’s Conservation Action Now
(CAN) Grant Program Committee which is responsible for reviewing and awarding
small grants to potential projects. Ideal projects will support conservation
through one or more of the following methods: Education, Research, habitat restoration or species
preservation.

Mr.
Varsik’s professional background encompasses over 26 years experience in animal
and zoo management during which he has worked at four Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA) accredited facilities. He has been a member of AZA since 1984.
Mr. Varsik received a Master of Arts in Conservation Park Management from
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois and Bachelor of Science in Environmental
Biology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo,
California. He and his wife reside in Edmond.

“Alan
is a great addition to our team,” said Dwight Scott, Executive
Director/CEO. “He enjoys forging relationships
with people and assisting in their professional development, and is committed
to the conservation and education goals of our facility.”

Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo today, Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top
three family-friendly zoos in the nation. Located at NE 52nd and
Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, in the heart of
Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, the Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
with exhibit buildings closing at 4:45 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $5
for children ages three to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children two and
under are free. For more information, call (405) 424-3344 or visit www.okczoo.com.

-okczoo-

EDITOR’S
NOTE: Photo available upon request via the Public Relations and Marketing team
(see Contacts.)

The Zoo is a fully accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums (AAM) as both a living museum and a botanical garden. AZA accredited facilities are dedicated to providing excellent care for their plants and animals, a great experience for guests and a better future for all living things.

A New Breath of Fresh Air: As of Nov. 1, 2007, state law prohibits smoking inside zoological parks. Please help us abide by this law by refraining from smoking within the Zoo. Thank you for maintaining a smoke-free environment for all living things!